Common Deviated Septum Symptoms

Deviated septums can generate a variety of symptoms and sometimes none at all (asymptomatic).
Generally a deviated septum may:

Cause external visible deviation (a crooked or twisted nose also called a c-shaped deformity)
Deviation of the tip
Make one nostril appear larger than the other
Cause obstructive symptoms
Be associated with sinus congestion
Be worse with swelling at night
Be worse with swelling casued by alterations in the autonomic nasal cycle
Be aggravated by allergic conditions

Hello and thank you for your question. Most patients with a deviated septum will have breathing problems and even nostril collapse when breathing in hard. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

It can be difficult to tell if you have a deviated septum without someone looking in your nose, but some of the things that can clue you into whether you might have a deviated septum include difficulty breathing primarily out of one side of the nose that doesn't seem to change throughout the day. Many patients will complain of intermittent nasal congestion that alternates from one side of the nose to the other. This is actually part of the regular nasal cycle in which the tissues, primarily the turbinates, will swell and shrink throughout the day. This is part of normal anatomic nasal function. In comparison, a septal deviation will not typically improve throughout the day or with certain activities. A deviated septum is also unlikely to cause a change in your nasal appearance. Only if there is a fairly significant trauma to the nose, will the septum change enough to alter the appearance of the nose, but this is usually in the setting of a nasal fracture. Another thing to know about the septum is that the vast majority of patients will have some degree of deviation and very very rarely is the perfectly straight. The only time that this becomes significant is when there is associated nasal breathing issues.
Hope this helps and best of luck!Kyle Kimura, MD

hithere can be functional or cosmetic issues from a deviated septum.Functionally, it can affect the breathing, and that can be manifested as generally restricted breathing, whistling, snoring, breathing from the mouth when sleeping or exercising.visibly/cosmetically, it usually causes asymmetry, the nose can look bent or crooked.

Depending on how bad the deviation is, you might notice no symptoms, or you might have severe difficulty breathing through your nose on one or both sides.
A mild deviation might not have any significant effect on breathing, there might be a very subtle difference in air entry from one side to the other - but keep in mind that a little difference is very normal, and it changes from one side to the other as the day goes along!
A moderate deviation might block just one side and a more severe deviation might block both sides - here the septum can take on an 'S-shape' where the top of the S blocks one side and the bottom blocks the other.
If the airway is narrowed bu a deviated septum, it then means that it is easier to get blocked up when you have a cold etc.
Blockage can also lead to other symptoms such as snoring and difficulty sleeping, and even changes to the voice.

The best way to know if the septum is deviated is to see a rhinoplasty surgeon or ear, nose, and throat specialist for an exam. If the septum is deviated and there are nasal breathing problems, then a septoplasty may be needed to correct this problem. Keep in mind that a deviated septum is not the only cause of nasal obstruction, as nasal valve collapse, enlarged turbinates, fractured nasal bones, or sinusitis could also be causes. 
Soreness of the nose for a few weeks after an injury is common. If the nose is crooked at the top (up between the eyes), then there may be a fracture of the nasal bones, not the septum, and this might require surgery to correct. Also, swelling inside the nose after an injury is common, and this will worsen any nasal obstruction symptoms.
If there is any question about the need for surgery after an injury, it's best to see a rhinoplasty expert like a facial plastic surgeon for a formal evaluation and exam.
All the best,